Study Shares New Insights into Alzheimer's Disease

The team of investigators, led by Professor Ben Goult at the University of Liverpool, have examined the role of two proteins found in the brain and suggest the stability of their relationship to one another is crucial for memory formation and maintenance.

The new study represents a significant step forward in scientists' understanding of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers have shed light on how mechanical signalling in the brain is disrupted and could lead to the condition which accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases worldwide. Disruptions in this mechanical signalling pathway could lead to the disease.

The study proposes that Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP), known for its role in the formation of the amyloid plaques in the brain, that are a characteristic feature in Alzheimer's disease (AD), directly interacts with talin, a synaptic scaffold protein.

The study suggested the talin- Amyloid Precursor Protein interaction is crucial for the mechanical integrity of synapses in the brain and that the misprocessing of Amyloid Precursor Protein observed in Alzheimer's, disrupts mechanical signalling pathways, leading to synaptic degeneration and memory loss, thereby contributing to the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The paper further shows that if talin is removed from cells in culture then the processing of Amyloid Precursor Protein is dramatically altered.

Professor Ben Goult, University of Liverpool said:

"Our paper outlines that Amyloid Precursor Protein is fundamental for the mechanical coupling of synapses in the brain and how the processing of Amyloid Precursor Protein is part of a mechanical signalling pathway that maintains synaptic integrity. However, misprocessing of Amyloid Precursor Protein, due to altered mechanical cues, disrupts this pathway, leading to the synaptic degeneration observed in Alzheimer's and could explain the memory loss associated. What's most exciting is our paper highlights the intriguing possibility that repurposing currently available cancer drugs that stabilize focal adhesions might represent a way to restore mechanical integrity at synapses. Whilst currently this is only a theoretical prediction, our current research is focussed on testing whether this represents a novel approach to slow the progression of Alzheimer's.

Reference: https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2024/11/27/new-discovery-could-offer-significant-answers-on-alzheimers-disease/